On 5 February 1944 S.S. Khedive Ismail left Mombasa bound for Colombo. On Saturday afternoon 12 February 1944 was sunk by Japanese submarine I-27 which fired a spread of four torpedoes two of which hit the ship which caused it to sink.
Due to enemy action, it resulted in the single worst loss of servicewomen: 17 WRNS, 53 NURSING SISTERS and their MATRON, as well as 09 members of the FIRST AID NURSING YEOMANRY.
All service personnel went through HMS Assegai which was operational from 01 October 1942 to 15 May 1944 located at Wentworth Durban, South Africa. It was a central drafting pool, transit camp and central training Establishment.
HAZEL MARY BATTEN. Wren N/68311 WRNS on shore establishment HMS Lanka and H.M.S. Assegai
Born 12 October 1920 at Hastings Sussex to Robert William and Ada Victoria Batten, of Hounslow, Middlesex.
Died 12 February 1944 age 23 years at sea. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Hazel Mary Batten of 28 Cambridge Close, Hounslow Middlesex, spinster. Died on or since 12 February 1944 on war service. Her effects went to her father retired Lieutenant, Royal Marines.
JEANETTE LILIAN BARDEN. 3rd Officer WRNS, HMS Tana
Born 1919 to Sidney Valentine and Lilian May Barden, nee Jeckells.
1939 her parents were residing at 12 Albert Street, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire.
12 October 1941 promoted to 3rd Officer
Died 12 February 1944 age 25 years. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Hampshire.
MARIE ELIZABETH BREAKELL. Wren N/39735 WRNS, of HMS Lanka
And HMS Assegai, O/P.
Born 23 September 1921 at Preston Lancashire. to Frederick Bazil and Mary Adeline Breakell nee Rodick.
1939 her parents and a sibling were residing at 57 Tulketh Crescent, Preston.
Died 12 February 1944. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Marie Elizabeth Breakell of 57 Tulketh Crescent, Preston. Died 12 February 1944 on war service. Her effects went to her father, retired railway official.
AGNES KYLE CARLYLE. Wren WA/40911 WRNS on HMS Lanka and HMS Assegai O/P
Born 04 February 1911 to Thomas and Elizabeth Frame Carlyle, of Bishopbriggs, Glasgow.
Died at sea 12 February 1944 age 33 years. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Hampshire.
Following extract taken from The Herald dated March 1 1944
DISTRICT WREN MISSING.
It is with deep regret that the people of Bishopbriggs and Torrance district learned that Miss Agnes Kyle Carlyle of the Women’s Royal Naval Service is missing presumed killed at sea. Wren Carlyle is the only daughter of the late T Carlyle and of Mrs E Carlyle, 17 Brackenbrae Road, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow.
She was well known in Torrence where she lived during the greater part of her life with her aunt, Miss Craig. Miss Carlyle took a great interest in the social life of Torrance being prominent in badminton and dramatic art circles as producer with Torrance Church Dramatic Society until the war put an end to their activities.
WINIFRED BEACH DALTON. Acting Leading Wren N/42535 WRNS of HMS Lanka
and HMS Assegai.
Born 01 March 1925 at Bethnal Green, London to George and Georgina Beach Dalton, of Possilpark, Glasgow.
Died on Khedive Ismail, steamship 12 February 1944 age 21. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
CICELY COPPARD DEAN 3rd Officer, WRNS on HMS Tana
Born 23 March 1912 baptised 14 March 1912 at All Souls, Harlesden, Brent, London to Christopher and Florence Mabel Dean, nee Coppard.
1939 with her parents at 25 Halliford Road, Sunbury-on-Thames, Middlesex, occupation, shorthand typist.
07 September 1941 promoted to 3rd Officer.
Died 12 February 1944 age 31 years. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial Hampshire.
GLADYS FLETCHER. Leading Wren D/9426 WRNS on HMS Tana.
Born 01 July 1917 to William and Martha Fletcher, of Prescot, Lancashire.
1939 residing at 276 Green Lane, Leigh, Lancashire, occupation, short hand typist
She saw service in the South and East Africa.
Died at sea 12 February 1944 age 26 years. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
ETHEL MARGARET HUNTER. Wren WA/43624 WRNS on HMS Lanka and HMS Assegai.
Born 04 July 1925 to Walter Frederick and Sara Hunter, of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Died 12 February 1944 age 19 years. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
AILEEN AUDREY BUCHANAN NICKSON. Wren 38215 WRNS, 38215 on HMS Lanka and HMS Tana
Born 24 May 1924 at Manchester Lancashire to Percy and Mary Aileen Hunter Nickson, of Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire.
1939 her parents were residing at Nordanay St Johns Rd. Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire
Died 12 February 1944 age 19 years. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent
Wills and Admin, Ancestry.
Aileen Audrey Buchanan Dickson of Nordanay St Johns Rd. Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire, spinster, died 12 February 1944. Her effects went to her father, solicitor.
BEATRICE MARJORIE NYE. Wren N/ 46151, WRNS of HMS TANA.
Born 13 December 1923 at Marylebone, London to John and Ada Florence Nye, nee Blundell of Kensal Rise, Middlesex.
1939 her widowed mother resided at 03 Hyde Crescent N. W.9. She may have resided at this address as there is one record taped over, officially closed.
Died 12 February 1944 age 20 years. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent
Her father fought in the Great War as Bombardier with the Royal Garrison Artillery.
MARION CARSON ROBINSON, nee Williamson. 3rd Officer, WRNS on HMS Tana
Born 13 September 1911 to William Thomas Carson and Jessie Williamson, nee McKechnie of Rusholme, Manchester.
Wife of Aircraftman Class 1 Henry Cyril Robinson, RAF.
1939 her parents were residing at 167 Thornton Road, Manchester
1939 with her husband at 05 Ashdown Court, Shipley, Yorkshire (West Riding), England
Died at sea 12 February 1944 age 32.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry
Marion Carson Robinson of 167 Thornton Road, Rusholme, Manchester who died on the 12 February 1944 on war service. Her effects went to her mother.
Her husband
Henry Cyril Robinson, Aircraftman 1st Class 1053675, RAVR of 216 Squadron
Son of George Waight Robinson and Elizabeth Robinson. He was admitted dangerously ill to No 63 British General Hospital, (BMH Alexandria) Alexandria Egypt on the 23 February 1942 where he died at 00.20hrs of pneumococcal meningitis, aged 31 years. At rest in Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt. Both reunited 12 February 1944.
HEATHER MOWBRAY SMAIL. Acting Leading Wren 43136 WRNS on HMS Lanka and HMS Assegai O/P.
Born 06 April 1923 at Etton, Northamptonshire to Walter and Ida Smail, nee Mowbray of Withernsea, Yorkshire.
Died 12 February 1944 age 20 years. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent
AUDREY HILDA STAFFORD. Wren Ply/60199 WRNS on HMS Lanka and HMS Assegai.
Born 10 December 1924 at Leyton, London to Francis and Hilda Janet Stafford, nee Rowell of Tottenham, Middlesex.
Died at sea on Khedive Ismail, steamship 12 February 1944 age 19 years. Commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon
MARGARET PONTON TODD. Leading Wren N/51125 WRNS on HMS Lanka and HMS Assegai, O/P
Born 01 June 1914 at Coaltown of Balgonie, Markinch, to John Cook and Margaret Todd, of Markinch, Fife.
Died 12 February 1944 age 29. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
HELEN MORAG JEAN VALENTINE. Leading Wren P/21962 WRNS on HMS Lanka
and HMS Tana O/P. (Royal Navy base, Kilindini, Mombasa, Kenya (1942–1945)
Born 14 July 1909 in Oldham to Abraham Henriques and Esther Valentine nee Joseph.
1911 with her parents and brother Martin at Limefield, Manchester Old Road, Middleton Lancs
1939 with her parents at 02 Clare Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire.
Died 12 February 1944. Commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
BETTY RAMSAY WHITE. Wren R/36211 WRNS on HMS Lanka and HMS Tana O/P
Born 05 November 1920 to Thomas Victor and Grace Gilmour White, nee McTaggart of Wallasey, Cheshire.
Died 12 February 1944 age 23 years. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
PAMELA IRENE WYLLIE. Leading Wren N/47044 WRNS on HMS Lanka and HMS Assegai, O/P
Born 24 September 1922 to Frederick and Jane Forrest Wyllie, nee Grundy of Plaistow, Essex.
1939 with her parents and brother, Horace at 23 Gwendoline Avenue, West Ham, Essex, occupation Junior Advertising Clerk
Died 12 February 1944 age 21 years. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Click on below link for the nurses connection.
